It all started in a kitchen… is it a kitchen showdown?

It’s been nearly two years that I am working on my apartment and it is soon going to be a year since the blog started. And yet – so difficult to reboot after holidays!

I have outlined a number of hot topics, but am still so reluctant to put them to paper and share. Why? Outcome is not quite like the project…

For one, there is the presentation media which is not reliable. If you’d start with 2D believing this is what you’ll be looking at – well you’re so wrong! 2D is Egyptian papyrus, and our life is at the very least 3D renaissance painting.

So, 2D’s were good to lock measurements and run the alignments, but it is not what your project will look like.

Then we have the 3D presentations – and here it is the colour which may fail us.

It is with great nostalgia that I look back at mysecond blog post: Before after and encore. In brief – it was only my second post and I was already so contented to have in first place changed the appalling violet colour of my kitchen, but also to have identified so many things which needed tackling – and therefore the encore.

Then, more recently, in July, in the blogpost  One two three … testing

I proudly demonstrated how I was midway there! In the process I most certainly shared the difficulties I had with the handy men, materials and more. Today on the other hand I am happy to report progress, but also I can carefully examine the result and work out whether it is the showdown. So, bear with me.

Given that my goals were clearly set in my initial post, I can easily estimate where I am today:

It is a bit comical that I have the question do I really want to keep this same kitchen on top of my list. It is not a bad kitchen, and indeed in the limited space not many improvements are possible. (I can surely think of some). But, yes, I hope the kitchen will be good for a few more years, especially since I do not cook regularly.

And to the list: 

1.Tiles very ugly – you must have agreed with that – for a full view of the original tiles, go to the original tiling dilemma.

Worse than tiles were the uneven, lopsided brown joints. And on top of all that – so hard to clean … I think I should have them removed even before I knew how to replace them. Utterly disgraceful. The new tiles unfortunately were a bit of a cheat – the original shade I wanted was gone. So, those are light grey tiles – not the cream colour which tied with the walls and the cabinets.

On the positive side – it is much cleaner job and given that I also have innox in the composition of all – not so out of place. It is also a question for designers in principle: what do you do when your ersatz material doesn't live up to your original choice? Please, don't be shy – go to the comments and share your thoughts!

2. Lights missing – got some terribly expensive lights from IKEA, packed with a blue tooth switch. I love their sleek design and adaptability. Negative sides: I wanted something brighter. In fact – and important area of the work surface remains in the dark. Another trip to IKEA is due, then.

And that's about it – compared to the original list – I have only gotten that far. Oh, and of course got rid of the gas stove, and got a fantastic new tap. And managed to complete skirting, among other smallish things, of course. But back to the original list:

3. Still no extraction through chimney – obviously it is not worth the job if chimney won't function – so maybe schedule a check, or have a chat with the neighbours?

4. Saloon doors still there – I so much need an efficient way to be able to lock kitchen smells in, when necessary , but got used to the cowboy outlook of the kitchen, so called (otherwise just an end to a corridor)

5. Hide pipes – indeed will be happy when it is done – but is it possible?

And now, if the same method should be applied – maybe I should be asking for an encore- encore list. I wholeheartedly retake everything from the original list, but will be happy also when:

6. Radiator is cleaned and restored to a nice shape (no rusty stuff insight please)

7. Joinery is also cleaned

8. Seating area improved – ideally table decluttered 

9. Adorn walls ? that is something to study! In general storage is scarce but will mounting things to the walls give me also a sense of order? (I associate open shelving with clutter)

10. Reorganise storage – with/without dryer for clothes?

So, here is my list – in spite of my near satisfactory result – I have it doubled. The kitchen at least will keep me busy for some more time, but the accomplished points do create some sense of satisfaction. Do you agree? Or would you rather have it all done in one go?

House and garden show at Kensington Olympia

It's been a while since I commented on an interior design show , and I must admit a lot of things are going on in my apartment – so many in fact that I cannot decide if it is better to carry on with the works, or stop, breath in and think about it. 

As of this date I am not aware if somebody is systematically reading my blog – but if so – please raise your hands in the form of a comment. Should it not be the case, I must say that the blog is nonetheless true to the intentions. I definitely need and use this wonderful sounding board to look at my decisions.

So, here I am forcing myself once again to stop and think on the occasion of House and Garden festival.

I had the occasion to visit it a couple of weeks ago and the impressions are still fresh. Hereunder I share with you what I liked about it in particular, what I would see more of, and what I am missing here in Brussels.

1. The wonderful talks! sadly, one cannot dedicate all the time to talks, but those I listen to, were very enriching

Farrow and ball's Charlotte Cosby gave away quite a lot of advice. I admit I haven't thought about making a list of all the items that I want to have painted, or the difference it makes to the architraves when the colour is matched and not plain white. Brilliant, very visual presentation, lots of people interested. Had  a peak in her book and may be buying it, even though I am nearly finished with decoration (or not?). 

Another alleyway to explore for instance is my minuscule entrance hall – which on top of everything is quite dark. So I am really playing with the idea to die the ceiling a beautiful green colour that can be integrated in all 3 rooms colours schemes.

It is of course debatable if a colour can be integrated in different colour schemes – probably subject to a different post. If I could find such a colour (have something in mind) that would be the common thread which will nail it all down.

The talk on bringing ethnicity to one's home. I am so proud of my relatively good record – already have my Nicaraguan coffee table, Japanese tableware and Malaysian ceramic sculpture on display. Agree with the presenter from Kalinko that colour should be leading – if your finds don't match the colour scheme – put them somewhere else. Disagree with her that if we like something, we must absolutely buy it – this in the light of my beautiful sarees whish may not see the light in this particular apartment. Excellent food for thought still

2. Decorated rooms sets. Just what I was sadly missing at Cocoon Brussels where just 4 designers were present and no tangible expression of their work. There were at least 5 room sets – some form designers I follow (2LG) and some from designers I have just discovered and find fascinating!

 Natalia Miyar presented a very brave living room with gorgeous pink walls. I was also impressed by what she said in the subsequent interview : Go big or go home. I suppose this is the massive difference between the interior designer's client who just needs someone to guide him to the utmost expression of his inner world in the form of a designed room. And then, there are hobby designers (such as myself) who'd rather stay in the safe perimeter of IKEA furniture. Nothing embarrassing – just food for thought.

The other interviewed designer – Tiffany Duggan of Studios Duggan also showed an audacious room with brave animal print fitted carpet. So, indeed, would be nice to see more of those sets

3. Products which are not naturally present in Brussels but provide an interesting incentive into interiors – in that case it was a first time for me to see how the paneling works …

And more decorative objects, furniture, lights, art. Strange enough there was a lot of clothing, jewelry and food – a bit unusual – but I'm guessing they know their readers. Can count me as a reader too – for the next year, because they got me subscribed! 

I hope to be able to make it to another fair soon, and not necessarily in Brussels where the identical event looked a bit rough and raw – more the store house than the shop window. Will report back, and especially if and when I integrate and idea into my designs – this way you can trace the origin!

As to yourselves – what is your experience? Do you generally learn useful things, enjoy meeting the industry or deepen your knowledge of brands? Don't be shy, share! Recommend me a next fair to visit!